Why NASCAR should allow driver-to-driver communication during the Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. - After Thursday’s Gatorade Duels, I attempted to predict the pace of the Daytona 500.

It was pretty standard in that I called for a fast-paced opening 30 laps that included a small multi-car accident leading to a prolonged period of calm that extended to the final 30. The pace was then predicted to pick back up, involved a ‘big one’ before a tandem-breakaway determines the winner of the Daytona 500.

I’m sticking to that, except that we may not have enough cars left to make it to a tandem finish.

Following Friday and Saturday’s Trucks and Nationwide Series races at Daytona International Speedway, it’s clear that some changes are necessary to prevent the Great American Race from becoming a clusterjunk and demolition derby.

Classic and close finishes are a staple of the Daytona 500 but drivers are likely not willing to crash each other in order to win the race - that includes John King, winner of the Truck Series 250 on Friday night.

NASCAR has put these drivers into a scary box in regards to radio communication.

Following the 2011 season, NASCAR outlawed driver-to-driver communication to help eliminate tandem drafting. This was done in conjunction with lowered spoilers and smaller grill openings. To that effect, NASCAR succeeded.

But at what risk?

In addition to being unable to see over their drafting partner’s spoiler, drivers are also unable to talk to their peers. This makes them blind and deaf. There’s only so much a spotter can do when cars are three-by-three at 200 mph.

How many accidents will be prevented by just allowing drivers to warn each other of impending traffic? Radio communication alone isn’t the cause of tandem drafting. It’s a combination of the current car and the new Daytona track surface. These cars want to tandem draft and will do so no matter what you do to them.

That has nothing to do with radio communication.

Placing each driver on a metaphorical island does nothing but disservice the entire field. So do the right thing NASCAR, and open up communication between the drivers.

You’ll get a much cleaner race out of it.